Shuffle feed motion-transmitting connection

ABSTRACT

A shuffle feed structure wherein articles are progressed from valley-to-valley over a shuffle feed mechanism involving reciprocating shuffle feed members, where an additional function is involved employing movement of a member of the shuffle feed mechanism which is actuated by the movement of the shuffle feed members but is in a different direction.

United States Patent [151 3,640,378

Enid) Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SHUFFLE FEED MOTION- [56] References Cited TRANSMITTING CONNECTION UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor; Melvin R, Elliott, San Jose, Calif 3,543,928 12/1970 Green ..209/98 X [731 Assignees: Genevieve H m; Genevieve Hm 3,269,535 8/ 1966 Daugherty ..209/98 seom, Robert Magnusou and Lois J. Thomson, as Trustees of the estate of Roy M. Magnuson, part interest to each Filed: Apr. 13, 1970 Appl. No.: 27,845

US. Cl .Q ..l98/218, 209/73, 209/98 Int. Cl ..B65g 25/04 Field of Search ..209/73, 83, 85, 98; l98/2l8 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attomey-Allen and Chrorny [57] ABSTRACT A shuffle feed structure wherein articles are progressed from valley-to-valley over a shuffle feed mechanism involving reciprocating shuffle feed members, where an additional function is involved employing movement of a member of the shuffle feed mechanism which is actuated by the movement of the shutfle feed members but is in a different direction.

1 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEI m sum 1 OF 2 TQE INVENTOR. MELVIN R. ELLIOT ATTORNEYS PATENIEU FEB 81972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. MELVIN R. ELLIOTT ATTORN Y5 SIIUFFLE FEED MOTION-TRANSMITTING CONNECTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with shuffle feed mechanisms in which the particular operation desired, for example, a sizing operation requires a different movement of a member in time with the regular reciprocating movement of the shufi'le feed members, and the present invention has means for operating a mechanism in a different direction of movement from the direction of movement of the shuffle feed members with which it is associated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a shuffle feed mechanism incorporating a member which moves in time with the shuffle feed members but in a different direction therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shufi'le feed of the above character in which the operation of the particular member in the opposite direction from that of the shuffle feed members involves an operating connection turning a comer to get the change of direction required.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shuffle feed mechanism embodying the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a longitudinal plane showing the particular function being performed in the present embodiment selected for illustration as being that of sizing of a vegetable or fruit article by an opening in front of one of the shuffle feed members and illustrating the present invention in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 3 is a perspective operational view of one of the sizing openings of the sizing structure;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the operation in a different timing during a sizing cycle.

Generally, the shuffle feed structure 11 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) comprises similar movable sets of upper shuffle members 13 and lower shuffle members 14 which are generally rectangular in their construction and are mounted in inclined position having a long upwardly facing article supporting portion and a short upwardly facing article feeding and supporting portion. One set of shuffle feed members 13 extend between and are secured to opposite upper pair of frame members or side plates 19 which are supported on the frame 15 by two pair of opposite parallel links 17. The other shuffle feed members 14 are carried by upwardly projecting angles 18 from a lower pair of opposite frame members or plates 19 which are supported by two pair of opposite parallel links 17. The means for driving or reciprocating the sets of shuffle feed members in opposite directions comprises a motor-driven transverse shaft 33 suitably joumaled on the frame and carrying respective pairs of eccentrics 34 whose eccentric followers are connected by the links 21 with the frame members 19 and 16 for the sets of shuffle members 13 and 14, respectively. These shuffle members move in opposite directions simultaneously to effect the feeding movement.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the shuffle feed members 14 have bent article advancing faces 15 in the usual fashion to progress articles along over the top plate 16 of the next adjacent shufi'le feed member 13. The front article contacting face of each of the members 13 is open, and has an upper bar 41 defining the upper edge of a sizing opening and a lower bar 42 defining the lower edge of the sizing opening. The upper bar 41 is supported by a plurality of similar mounting means each comprising an angular-shaped fixture 43 on a rod 44 which extends rearwardly into the upper branch of a U-shaped passage 46 in a pair of mating brackets 47 and 48 of nylon or similar material. The rod 44. carries a collar 51 which is engaged by a compression spring 52 to urge the rod 44 to the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the other end of the spring engaging a seat in the brackets 47 and 48. The lower bar 42 is supported by a plurality of similar mounting means each comprising a bracket member 56 secured at the end of a rod 57 which IS slidably engaged with the lower half of the U- shaped passage 46 and urged to the position shown by a spring 55 held between a seat in the brackets 47, 48 and a collar on the rod 57. The rod 57 engages one of the series of balls 59 cccupying the I80 turn of the passage 46 and abutting the erid of the rod 44 in the upper passage half. Thus, the bars 41 and 42 are connected by a flexible resilient motion or force transmitting connection so that any movement of one of these members relative to the shuffle member on which it is mounted will effect an equal and opposite movement of the other. It is noted also that the series of balls 59 forming part of a motion-transmitting connection extending around a corner or in a diiferent direction form the original source of the motion.

In the normal position of the bars 41 and 42 a potato 60 is presented to the sizing opening between the bars 41 and 42 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and if it is small enough to pass between the bars 41 and 42 it will be deposited in the corresponding pocket on the conveyor 66 between the partition 67, to which certain inclined partitions or ramps 68, 69 and 70 lead. If the potato is too large to pass between the bars 41 and 42 and go through the sizing opening then it must be ejected from the opening so that the potato will be passed onto the next sizing flight of the shuffle feed for further sizing operation and so that the opening shall prove to be too small it will be free at the time another potato is presented thereto. To accomplish this end, a stop 61 (FIG. 2) is mounted on each side of the frame members in position to be engaged by the brackets 56 at the end of a stroke, and to thereby actuate the rod 57, the balls 59 and the rod 44 to project the brackets 43 and the bar 41 to the position shown in FIG. 4 where the potato will be moved forwardly and out of the opening and onto the next shuffle feed members.

It will be understood that there is a corner turning motiontransmitting mechanism including a series of balls 59 at each side of each of the sizing openings, and that the bars 41 and 42 defining the sizing opening are similarly supported at each end, and may be supported intermediate their ends by similar actuating mechanisms depending upon the width of the machine.

While I have shown and described a preferred fonn of the invention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of modification and variation from the form shown, so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim:

1. In a shuffle feed mechanism having a first set of transversely extending shuffle members and a second set of similar disposed shuffle members arranged in alternating parallel relation with said first set to provide transverse valleys, means for effecting reciprocation for at least one set of said members to advance an article from valley to valley of the shuffle feed mechanism, at least one of said shuffle members having mounted thereon a first movable means for performing a desired function including elfecting movement of a second movable means, and a motion-transmitting mechanism for connecting the said first movable means to the second movable means to effect movement thereof in response to reciprocation of said members but in a different direction of motion,

said motion-transmitting mechanism comprising a pair of spring-urged members having a series of balls interposed between a pair of respective ends thereof for transmitting motion around a comer. 

1. In a shuffle feed mechanism having a first set of transversely extending shuffle members and a second set of similar disposed shuffle members arranged in alternating parallel relation with said first set to provide transverse valleys, means for effecting reciprocation for at least one set of said members to advance an article from valley to valley of the shuffle feed mechanism, at least One of said shuffle members having mounted thereon a first movable means for performing a desired function including effecting movement of a second movable means, and a motion-transmitting mechanism for connecting the said first movable means to the second movable means to effect movement thereof in response to reciprocation of said members but in a different direction of motion, said motion-transmitting mechanism comprising a pair of spring-urged members having a series of balls interposed between a pair of respective ends thereof for transmitting motion around a corner. 